60



Cranes in Captivity.



times called, Paradise Crane. This is a most beautiful bird, bluish-

grey in colour, with rather a massive-looking head and extremely

long wing-feathers which almost reach to the ground. This species

requires more animal-food than the other kinds and a few meal¬

worms are a very acceptable addition to the diet; if these are not

readily obtainable, spiders and woodlice, especially the latter, may be

given. For grain food, a mixture of wheat, dari, and rice in the

husk is as good as anything. It is an extremely gentle bird.


The Sams Crane, of which examples are often offered for sale

by dealers, is not a suitable bird for mixed collection of Cranes, owing

to its spiteful disposition, as it is always interfering with the other

Cranes, pecking them and very often inflicting nasty injuries on

them. When, however, a separate enclosure can be provided for it,

this species makes a handsome addition to the aviaries. The cry is

very loud and piercing and can be heard long distances, especially at

night, and for this reason it is not advisable to have this bird in

too close proximity to the dwelling-house as it is apt to disturb one’s

rest, more particularly if one is a light sleeper. The appearance of

this species is very stately: the colouration is French grey and a

considerable portion of the head and neck is bare skin of a reddish

tint.


The Asiatic White Crane is a very beautiful bird of dazzling

white plumage, with black at the end of the primaries of the wings.

This species is a more shy bird than the Sarus and possessed of

a very feeble voice, except during the breeding season. It never

goes far away from the water pool. The feeding and management

is the same as for the other Cranes.


The Common Crane, once widely distributed through these

islands, is now no longer a resident and only a most irregular visitor.

The colour is dark-grey. Their voice is trumpet-like and rather

eerie, especially when heard in the early morning. They make nice

additions to a collection, but are rather spiteful towards any com¬

panions in the same enclosure, especially if they be smaller than

themselves.*



* A male bird I had for some time, twice stabbed his mates, and killed


them.—E d.



